Search Clearwater Obituary Records

Obituary and death certificate records for Clearwater residents are processed through the Pinellas County Department of Health office in Largo. Clearwater is one of the largest cities in Pinellas County, with a population near 117,000, and all vital records requests go through the county DOH rather than the city itself. The Pinellas County office keeps death records from 2009 forward, while older Clearwater death records are held at the state Bureau of Vital Statistics in Jacksonville.

Clearwater Death Certificate Office

Clearwater does not have its own vital records office. Death certificates for Clearwater residents are handled by the Pinellas County DOH office in Largo. The Largo office is about a 15-minute drive south of downtown Clearwater, making it a fairly quick trip for most Clearwater residents who need to request records in person.

The Pinellas County DOH recommends scheduling an appointment before visiting. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments get priority. This matters because the office serves Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Largo, and all other Pinellas County cities. The wait can get long without an appointment, especially during peak times.

Pinellas County charges $9 for the first death certificate copy, $8 for each additional copy, and $5 for a rush fee. These local fees are higher than some other Florida counties. The pricing is set by the Pinellas County DOH and differs from the standard state rate you would pay at the Jacksonville bureau.

The City of Clearwater website does not handle death certificates but offers links to city services and community resources.

The Clearwater city website provides general municipal services for residents.

How to Order Clearwater Death Records

Clearwater residents can get death certificates three ways. In person is fastest if you have an appointment. Mail works but takes longer. Online through VitalChek is the most convenient option.

For in-person requests, go to 8751 Ulmerton Rd, Suite 1700, in Largo. Bring a valid photo ID and a completed DH727 form. You need the deceased person's full name, date of death, date of birth, county of death, and Social Security number if available. The Pinellas County staff will search their records and process your Clearwater death certificate request. Same-day service may be possible with an appointment, but standard processing takes 3 to 5 business days.

Mail requests go to the Largo address. Include a completed application, a photocopy of your ID, and payment by check or money order to the Florida Department of Health. A self-addressed stamped envelope helps speed things up. Mail orders typically take 2 to 3 weeks from the Pinellas County office.

Online orders go through VitalChek. The cost is $15 for the first copy plus a $7 processing fee. Extra copies are $4 each. You pay by credit or debit card. Delivery takes 5 to 7 business days standard. Rush options cost more. Many Clearwater residents choose VitalChek because it saves a trip to Largo, though the price is higher than the in-person rate.

Clearwater Death Certificate Eligibility

Florida has two types of death certificates. The same rules apply to every Clearwater death record.

Anyone 18 or older can get a death certificate without cause of death. This is the public version. It lists the person's name, dates, and place of death. The cause of death is left off. The first five digits of the SSN are redacted. Under Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, cause of death and SSN are confidential on death records. The public version is fine for genealogy, proof of death, and other uses where cause of death is not needed.

The version with cause of death stays sealed for 50 years. Only eligible people can get it. That list includes the surviving spouse, a parent, adult children or grandchildren, adult siblings, or someone with a will or insurance claim. You fill out DH Form 1959 to prove eligibility. A court order also works. Clearwater families often need this version for settling estates and filing life insurance claims.

Clearwater Historical Records

The Pinellas County DOH keeps death records from 2009 to the present. For Clearwater deaths before 2009, you need to contact the state Bureau of Vital Statistics at 1217 N Pearl St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Call (904) 359-6900 or email VitalStats@FLHealth.gov. The state bureau has records going back to 1877.

Under Chapter 382 of the Florida Statutes, death certificates must be filed within five days. These rules apply to all deaths in Clearwater and the rest of Florida. The electronic death registration system captures records as they are filed, which makes retrieval faster for recent deaths.

The Florida Memory Project has free digitized historical records. The Clearwater Public Library System offers local history and genealogy resources. The Florida Clerks of Court website connects to probate and court records that may contain death-related information for older Clearwater residents. Local newspapers and funeral homes also maintain obituary archives for the Clearwater area.

Clearwater has a number of funeral homes that post obituaries on their websites. The Tampa Bay Times covers Clearwater obituaries regularly. Online obituary databases also index Clearwater death notices due to the city's size in the Tampa Bay area.

Pinellas County Fee Details

Pinellas County fees for Clearwater death certificates differ from some other Florida counties. The first certified copy costs $9. Each additional copy is $8. A rush fee of $5 speeds up processing. These are the in-person and mail rates at the Pinellas County DOH office in Largo.

VitalChek charges $15 for the first copy plus $7 processing. Extra copies through VitalChek are $4 each. A single Clearwater death certificate through VitalChek runs about $22 before shipping upgrades. The price gap between in-person and online is notable for Clearwater residents who live close enough to make the drive to Largo.

If the year of death is unknown, the state charges $2 per year searched, up to $50 total. Records before 2009 go through the state bureau, which charges $5 plus possible rush and shipping fees. Always confirm current fees before ordering, as they can change.

Clearwater County Records

All Clearwater death records go through Pinellas County. Visit the county page for full details on the DOH office, fees, and available services.

Nearby Cities

These Florida cities near Clearwater also have obituary and death record pages with local details.